Nagy's in Orrville celebrates 40 years of success

By Linda Hall Staff Writer

Sunday

Jan 27, 2013 at 4:00 AM

ORRVILLE -- An easy camaraderie is evident between brothers Dan Nagy and Ron Nagy. Fifty-fifty partners in the business, Nagy's Collision Specialists, they took over from their father, Dave Nagy, they say they learned to work together early on.

They've worked together so well the business is celebrating its 40th anniversary.

"We grew up with four sisters and learned at a young age we had to partner," Ron Nagy said.

They describe their family as close, sharing the same values and faith, and when they banter about it jokingly, for example, calling their father a "free consultant" who pops in to critique the job they're doing, it's all in good fun.

"We will loan him out to anyone," Ron Nagy quipped.

But the reality is, the brothers highly respect their father and the business he built, founding it in Doylestown in 1973 as Nagy's Body & Frame. The two brothers purchased the business in 1995, having already worked for their father as technicians for 15 years.

"I still hold high our last name," Ron Nagy said. "It's on every building, and I take it seriously. It's my father's name."

"Our father taught us the legacy means something; it's the one he left us," said Dan Nagy, recalling how he was taught his dad's work ethic.

He would say, "When you think you're done, come and get me," Dan Nagy said, knowing that meant his father would decide whether the job had been done right.

"He was a perfectionist, and we appreciate it," Ron Nagy said.

One other family member is involved in the business. Oldest sister Debbie Nagy "now works for us," said Dan Nagy, overseeing the Hertz rental car business at each of the locations.

"She runs all of them," Ron Nagy said.

Their second oldest sister, Sandy Stebly, is the principal of Chippewa Middle School. Next in line, Lorie Purdy, is an administrative assistant at Norton Grace Brethren Church, where much of the extended family attends. Their youngest sister, Kendra Gay, is a stylist.

Family values are responsible for their success, according to Dan Nagy, who praised his mother, Kathleen, for her help in building up the business originally.

"(Values) do make a difference," Dan Nagy said.

Their dad was a tool and die maker for 18 years, then cashed in his retirement to start a business, Ron Nagy said.

"To have that kind of confidence, that kind of drive," he said, has earned his respect.

Using the foundation their dad, now 76, laid, "we ran with it," Ron Nagy said.

Nagy's now has locations in Ashland, Doylestown, Green (Akron), Millersburg, Orrville, Wadsworth and two locations in Wooster.

The original shop is

behind their parents' house in Doylestown, Dan Nagy said, and his dad goes there every day, taking pride in his work.

His dad's favorite saying, according to Ron Nagy, is, "Do what you want," but any suggestions he comes up with are made "just because he wants us to be successful."

"We're excited about (our 40th anniversary)," Ron Nagy said, highlighting "little competitions, free T-shirts and prizes" that will be part of the celebration.

They'll be given away through social media and at each location, he said. "We've got this whole plan we're working through now."

Legacy, Dan Nagy said.

Strong faith, Ron Nagy said.

Those are the values being celebrated.

The celebration will be "internally, with all the employees," Ron Nagy said, and with the customers, calling all of them a blessing.

"We really do care about our employees," Dan Nagy said. "I say we're a small company with a lot of employees. We genuinely care about them and in the decisions we're going to make, how those are going to impact them and their families," he said.

"They do a phenomenal job," Ron Nagy said.

As a company, Nagy's is involved with the chambers of commerce in the communities in which they do business and also supports the Children's Advocacy Center.

"I do believe in faith," Ron Nagy said, clarifying, "I never want to use God or our faith to market (our business). But we do want (our customers) after they leave to know there was something different (about us)."

Nagy's Collision Specialists' mission is "to repair vehicles back to pre-loss condition efficiently, effectively and with the highest quality, while maintaining a strong moral integrity."

The Nagys encourage people to "like" the company's Facebook page to keep up with anniversary prizes and give-aways all year long.

Reporter Linda Hall can be reached at 330-264-1125, Ext. 2230, or lhall@the-daily-record.com.

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